We have older ST Turbo fins and found that they accumulate a lots of scrapes and cuts, especially in the bottom 1 - 2 inches. I've searched the archives and found a lot of posts on repairing damage, but not so much on preventing or reducing damage.

I've experimented with EPDM (rubber roofing membrane) patches as shown below. Seems to help, and doesn't seem to have any noticeable effect on performance (though I'd probably not do this if I were racing).

Any other ideas / suggestions? Are the newer fins a tougher material such that this isn't necessary or advisable?

Despite best efforts and careful usage, we still seem to get a lot of cuts and scrapes (some of them on the kayak). Leading causes seem to be:

1) Surprise shallow spots in murky water

2) Submerged trees or other objects in deeper water

3) Usage by visitors

The hole in the fin above was caused by a visitor's close encounter with a submerged concrete pier 75' from shore in 4' of water.

One problem with the EPDM 'wear guard' is that most adhesives don't adhere well to the proprietary and undisclosed fin material. Best so far is McNett Seam Sealer - we had no luck with tire patch glue as suggested in another thread.

This is most likely the part you have the least control over. And the part of most of the mishaps. Unexperienced and does not own the yak. Might want to have the "visitor" go through some training before let use the yak. Good luck.

The hot soldering iron method of repair is very effective (I have several large cuts in one of my fins which I repaired this way and they are still holding up after probably 2 years' worth of hard use).

If you have searched you will have probably found detailed info on repairing but quickly the technique is as follows:

1. cut some slivers of fin material from a 'more redundant' part of the fin - e.g. the very top of the fin right under/around the where the chain cables pass through.2. with a hot soldering iron melt the fin material around the cut or hole and melt/paste/weld the slivers of new material in/on/around it to weld over the damage.

(I can't really describe it better than this - it is a lot easier to do than to explain. The material melts to the consistency of peanut butter and is very easy to work in that state because it holds the heat well and doesn't seem ever to get to an unworkable 'dripping' consistency. I only took one attempt to mend each of the cuts in my fin - the mends are not particularly pretty but they certainly have done the job far better than I had ever hoped)

Thanks. I read about the hot melt 'peanut butter' approach in another thread, and I'll try that for my hole and a couple of cuts higher up. I mostly wanted to share my EPDM wear patch and see if there were any other preventative ideas out there for the high-risk areas at the bottom of the fins.

I will say the the EPDM is MUCH more wear and cut resistant than the Hobie material.